Suspension Rules Flannery Out Of Six Nations : Irish Rugby

Munster hooker Jerry Flannery will play no part in Ireland's upcoming Six Nations campaign after being banned for eight weeks for stamping on Clermont Auvergne flanker Julien Bonnaire during a recent Heineken Cup pool match.

Flannery was in Dublin today for the disciplinary hearing after being cited by citing commissioner Achille Reali (Italy) for the incident in Munster's defeat to Clermont Auvergne in France on January 13.

The Irish international appeared by an independent disciplinary committee, chaired by England's Christoper Quinlan and also comprising of Roger Morris (Wales) and John Doubleday (England).

After considering the evidence available, the committee ruled that "the stamping offence was of the top end in the level of seriousness" and banned Flannery from all rugby up to and including Wednesday, March 19.

That is four days after Ireland's final match of the 2008 Six Nations against England, although Flannery will be able to play for Munster in their Heineken Cup quarter-final away to Gloucester on April 5.

He does have the right to appeal against the suspension. Flannery was legally represented today by former Munster and Ireland international Donal Spring and accompanied to the hearing by Munster coach Declan Kidney.

Afterwards, Kidney and Flannery left without comment but Spring said: "we are very disappointed with the outcome and are considering an appeal."

Felix Jones, who is the visiting coach in Ireland camp this week, spoke to Irish Rugby TV about how 'interesting' and 'valuable' his time in Tokyo has been, and also what the transition from player to coach is like. He retired in October 2015 and is now Munster's back-line and attack coach.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's second Test against Japan, Ireland tour captain Rhys Ruddock said: "We've been happy with the results so far, and there's been bits of the performances we've been really happy with and some bits that we're looking to improve on. Tomorrow marks the last opportunity to go out and do that, so we're all really excited about getting out there now."